This article will focus on the biography of one of the richest people in the world. This is our compatriot, a native of Moscow - Vladimir Potanin.
Birth, education
Vladimir was born on January 3, 1961 in the capital of the USSR in the family of the trade representative of the Soviet Union in New Zealand. After graduating from high school, he entered the Faculty of Economics at MGIMO, graduating in 1983.
According to the "good" tradition of supporters of conspiracy plots, it is generally accepted that almost all successful, rich and influential people in Russia and in the world are distinguished by Jewish nationality. Vladimir Potanin is also often characterized as a Freemason, an agent of Zionism, and so on. However, there is no real confirmed information about the Semitic roots of Vladimir Olegovich. Vladimir Potanin, whose biography, nationality and personal life are public information, is officially considered Russian.
Career start
A little later, after graduating from the institute, Vladimir Potanin acquired membership in the CPSU Party and worked as an engineer at Soyuzkhimexport. This continued until 1990, when the young man went to work at IBEC - the International Bank for Economiccooperation. And already in 1991 he took the place of the President of the Interros Foreign Economic Association.
First steps in business
In 1992-1993 Vladimir Potanin was vice-president, and then president of the IFC bank, which he himself created. Since 1993, he has taken the presidency of JSCB ONEXIM Bank. Since 1995, the loans-for-shares auctions conducted by Potanin have been actively discussed in the media. He pointed out that he pursued two goals by this, which were to find effective owners for enterprises and to attract funds to the treasury. During these auctions, Vladimir Potanin, through IFC and ONEXIM Bank, acquired state-owned shares in the Siberian-Far Eastern Oil Company, Norilsk Nickel, Novorossiysk Shipping Company, Novolipetsk Iron and Steel Works, and North-Western Shipping Company.
In 1996, Potanin became vice president of the Association of Financial and Industrial Groups. In the same year, he took part in the meeting of the then President of the Russian Federation Boris Yeltsin with a group of politicians and bankers, which resulted in the establishment of an analytical group at the election headquarters. The group was headed by Anatoly Chubais. A few months later, Vladimir Potanin was awarded by the President for his active support of his election campaign.
AvtoVAZ case
In August of the same 1996, Potanin happened to become the first deputy chairman of the government of the Russian Federation. His responsibilities included overseeingeconomic bloc. The Minister of Economy welcomed this appointment, as did the Chairman of the Central Bank. At the same time, he participated in the bankruptcy case of AvtoVAZ. A huge external debt (about three trillion rubles) threatened to close the enterprise, but this was avoided.
Foundation of Interros
In March 1997, Vladimir Potanin was dismissed from the post of First Deputy Prime Minister, and in May he again headed ONEXIM Bank. Novye Izvestia reported that Potanin had decided to run for president in the upcoming elections. In April 1998, he left ONEXIM Bank to head the Interros holding, which unites Nornickel, SIDANCO and FPG Interros. The following spring, a number of media outlets wrote that the industrial activities of the companies of this holding provided more than 4% of Russia's GDP and approximately 7% of the total exports.
Career development and elevation
July 1998 was remembered, among other things, by the fact that Vladimir Potanin, whose biography is replete with contacts with political structures, made a sharp statement against the authorities about the economic situation in the country. Among other things, he called the government's policy a "mockery" of the people and stressed that if the economic problems of the state are not urgently resolved and social protection mechanisms are not reorganized, then a dictatorship or anything else can be established in the country.
In 2001, under the leadership of InterrosPower Machines Concern was founded. The company united a number of enterprises, such as the Leningrad Metal Plant, the Turbine Blade Plant, LMZ-engineering and others. In the same year, he again entered government structures. Vladimir Potanin strengthened his contacts with the state authorities through membership in the Council for Entrepreneurship under the Government of the Russian Federation. Then, through Interros, he sold a number of oil companies, after which he actually ended the oil business.
In 2003, Potanin was elected as Chairman of the National Council for Corporate Governance. The tasks of this body were to improve the ethical and business rating of Russia. In the same year, he took part in a forum that brought together supporters and like-minded people of the ruling party. In addition, July of this year was marked by a very large deal, as a result of which Interros bought out all the commercial structures of Alexander Smolensky. They included a group of banks and several other companies. The Kommersant newspaper assessed this deal as the largest takeover of one holding by another in this sector in the history of the domestic banking system.
In 2005, Vladimir Potanin again criticized the government. This time, the reason was high administrative barriers and a critical level of corruption, which seriously affects the development of small and medium businesses. In addition, Potanin noted the fact of too intrusive behavior of the government in the economic sphere. In the same year, Potaninbecame a member of the Public Chamber, in which he became the chairman of the commission dealing with volunteering and charity.
In 2007, Interros announced a serious restructuring that was starting, as a result of which Potanin had to stop working with his main partner Mikhail Prokhorov, who by then held the chair of the general director of Norilsk Nickel. According to the terms of the program, Prokhorov, having completed a number of current projects, must resign as head, while selling his part of the shares in this company into the ownership of Interros. Potanin, for his part, is selling all the assets of a number of energy and hydrogen companies of Interros to Prokhorov so that he can subsequently create his own company.
Awards & Charity
By 2006, Potanin's fortune reached $6.4 billion. He is actively involved in charity work. In particular, he allocated his own funds for the development of the Hermitage. In addition, with the million dollars donated by him, the Museum Fund of Russia was able to buy Malevich's Black Square, which the Hermitage became the operational manager of. Potanin invested in the establishment of the Orthodox Humanitarian University and a number of other church projects, for which he received three church awards - the Order of St. Prince Vladimir II and III degree and the Order of St. Sergius III degree. But long before that, in 1995, he was one of the founders of the Foundation for the Unity of Orthodox Peoples. Commenting on his style of charity, he noted that the state shouldstop looking at benefactors as criminals trying to atone for their crimes.
All charitable programs are handled by a special fund established by Vladimir Potanin. The address of this institution: Moscow, Bolshaya Yakimanka street.
In 2007, Potanin became the first businessman to be awarded the French Order of Arts and Letters. This award was presented to him for merits in the development of intercultural dialogue between Russia and France. Later, Potanin actively supported the development of the hotel infrastructure in Sochi and the construction of sports facilities for the upcoming Olympic Games.
Vladimir Potanin: personal life
In conclusion, let's say a few words about the personal life of this person. First of all, we note that he is married, and for the second time. The first wife of Vladimir Potanin - Natalya Nikolaevna - lived with him for about thirty years. However, in February 2014, she officially divorced him at the initiative of Vladimir himself, who at that time had a long relationship on the side. A few months after the divorce, he entered into a new marriage. His current wife's name is Ekaterina, and she is fourteen years younger than her predecessor. As far as is known, she has a daughter, Varvara, whose father is Vladimir Potanin. His children from his first marriage - two sons and a daughter - do not maintain contact with him. He refused to leave them an inheritance and, after a divorce, deprived his offspring of work in his own commercial structure. Daughter of Vladimir Potanin Anastasia and sonIvan are multiple champions of Russia in aquabike. Anastasia also won the world title in this sport three times.
Other Facts
Potanin speaks English and French. He prefers to spend his free time actively, so he often visits ski resorts, and also plays football and tennis. Potanin travels a lot. In addition, chess and dominoes are on the list of his favorite pastimes. In 2006, he gained experience as a TV presenter. This opportunity was provided to him by the TNT channel, signing a contract with him, according to which Potanin was supposed to host the reality show Candidate.
